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The Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, today (December 8) encouraged students to learn from the achievements of the visiting astronauts and aerospace scientists and strive for their own goals.
Mr Suen made the remarks while speaking to about 2,500 primary and secondary students and teachers during a dialogue session between Hong Kong students and the Shenzhou-7 manned space mission delegation.
The event was organised by the Education Bureau for the deputy leaders of the delegation, Mr Wang Wenbao and Mr Yuan Jiajun, and the three astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, to meet local students and help them gain a better understanding of the development of aerospace science and technology on the Mainland. The dialogue also offered a rare opportunity for young students to learn more about how the astronauts were trained and their experience in space.
Commending the achievements of the astronauts, Mr Suen said, ¡§The three astronauts and aerospace scientists of Shenzhou-7 are indeed the elite of our country, whose achievements are the results of many years of efforts and determination.
"The success of the mission of Shenzhou-7 marks a milestone in our country's manned space programme. Manned spacecraft started to be included in the state's planning and study in 1992. This year, the Shenzhou-7 has achieved a breakthrough by accomplishing the mission of carrying three astronauts and launching a spacewalk mission. This is a remarkable achievement within only 16 years," Mr Suen said.
To tie in with the launch of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, the Education Bureau has developed Aerospace Science and Technology Web-based Learning Resources and organised an aerospace science knowledge contest and poster design competition for students.
During today's dialogue session, students were invited to raise questions with members of the delegation and engage in an active discussion with them, focusing mainly on astronauts' equipment, spacewalk experience, family life, training, and the latest developments in aerospace technology in China.
The delegation members also presented awards to winners of the aerospace science knowledge contest and poster design competition organised earlier in commemoration of the launch of Shenzhou-7.
Today's dialogue session, at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, was attended by teachers and students from about 150 primary schools and about 100 secondary schools. Other guests included Deputy Secretary for Education Dr K K Chan and representatives of some school councils.
Ends/Monday, December 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:14
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